We should start with short tweets. To really improve your golf ability with short putts, weight is key. You have to create a situation where missing that short putt can hurt. You need to consider the consequences of each putt. If all you need to do after a fumble is force a substitution and try again, you'll never show any signs of improvement.
On that note, put the weight on yourself, whether you stay on the green until you can make 25 straight putts. After hitting 24 in a row, you'll be surprised how problematic that last putt is. This is physically the same putter. Still, he's anxious realizing that a miss means he's wasted time on the last 24 shots. It has created competitive conditions on the green, so to speak. Actual weight. Get some air.
Since you don't need to hit the ball very far, the stroke should be short, which doesn't give the putter head too much swing curve. It is also possible not to have arc segments at the same time. On short putters, you don't need the putter head to move in or out of the target line (on the return path, anyway). So think "backwards, forwards". If you can keep the face of the putter directly around the opening throughout your shot, and your setup is perfect, you're bound to hit more knee shots than you miss.
Aim for the edge
Here's one way to perfect your long putts: First, don't look for the openings. Consider the spacing, not the headers. You're more likely to hit a short 10-foot putt than a 10-foot wide one, so spacing is key. Throw a set of balls onto the putting green and push them to the far perimeter.
Learn how close you can get to the edge without tilting your head. Don't worry about where you're hitting the ball on the perimeter and how far you putt. If you practice like this, you can become a true pro, to the point where you can predict exactly how far the ball will go.
Using the Ladder Exercise
Here's an alternative activity to encourage your sense of separateness called the Ladder Exercise. Put the ball on the putting green about 10 feet from the edge. From a distance of no less than 30 feet, try to throw a backup ball between the first ball and the perimeter. At that point, try to hit a third ball between the second ball and the perimeter, and so on. See how many balls you can putt before you run out of space or putting becomes too complicated. Obviously, the closer each ball you bring in the path is to the previous one, the more efficient you will be.
